Adjustable support for bathing devices



Sept. 10, 1935. w. o. THOMPSON 2,013,720

ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT FOR BATHING DEVICES Filed Jan. 30, 1934 INVENTOR MMQMPatented Sept. 10, 1935 UNHTED STATES guano PATENT GFFEQE ADJUSTABLESUPPORT FOR BATHING DEVICES Application January 30, 1934, Serial No.708,979

Claims.

This invention pertains to the positioning of tubs, and moreparticularly, to apparatus for supporting a bathing device.

Various problems arise in connection with the 5 supporting of bathingdevices such as bathtubs. The form or shape of the tubs as well as thetype of materials employed in their manufacture, tend to make theseproblems more difiicult of solution.

It has been the custom to provide some form lb of extension ofconsiderable length, in order to support the tub in a desired position.

In connection with tubs formed of cast or molded material, such as metalcastings or ceramic materials, or porcelain, it has been the custom toform integral extensions for the purpose of supporting the devices.These integral extensions not only add to the weight of the finishedarticle, and thus, to shipping costs, but also result in a moreexpensive process in that rejections are increased due to imperfectcastings, etc. Then too, the support legs or feet must be protectedduring handling, shipping, and installation to prevent breakage.

In connection with tubs formed of sheet material, it has also been acommon practice to provide extending aprons for supporting the device.

There are certain factors which are common to the supporting structuresof the various types of bathing devices. One of these is that thesupporting structures are securely and rigidly mounted on a tub, andthus, they do not permit as much flexibility in their installation as isdesirable.

Under present conditions, in order to meet the tastes and requirementsof a group of customers, it is desirable to provide tubs of variousdimensions and/ or tubs having various sizes of supporting structures.

When a non-flexible form of drain and/ or faucet connection is provided,it often happens that the threads of the connections require a differentheight for the tub than the actual mounting or supporting structureprovides. Also, in various locations, a tub may require more slope thanin others.

Due to the lack of flexibility of the supports now in general use, theonly alternative has been to in some manner wedge material between thesupporting structure and the floor to provide an approximation of adesired height.

And, it has been an object of my invention to provide a new and improvedform of structure for supporting a bathing device.

Another object has been the provision of a more practical form ofsupporting structure.

A further object of my invention has been to provide a supportingstructure for a bathing device which will be more responsive to variousmounting requirements.

A further object of my invention has been to provide a method ofsupporting a bathing device 5 whereby at least one portion of suchdevice may be raised or lowered to meet various installationrequirements.

A still further object of my invention has been the provision of asupporting structure which will enable structural improvements in abathing device.

These and many other objects of my invention will appear to thoseskilled in the art from the following description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing, in which The figure is a longitudinalside view of a bathing device partially in section and showing anembodiment of my invention.

In carrying out my invention, I contemplate the provision of some formof supporting structure which may at one end thereof cooperate with arelatively small portion of a bathing device, such as a bathtub, and, atthe other end thereof, may cooperate with a suitable mounting structure,such as a floor, wall, and/ or shelf.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown a screw-jacktype of supporting structure which at one end is adapted to fit on anubble, boss, or knob extending from the rim of a bathing device, andwhich at another end, is adapted to be adjustably mounted on the flooror mounting members of a room.

Although in the illustrated embodiment, I have shown two devices, one ateach end of a bathing enclosure or tub, it is apparent that any suitablenumber may be provided and mounted in the manner suggested.

By employing my invention, I am able to provide a materially simplifiedform of tub such as H3, having an outwardly projecting flange or rim Hfrom the under side or face of which extend downwardly depending bossesl2. The bosses l2 sharply contrast in size with the standard forms ofsupporting extensions.

In the case of the cast or molded type of device, the bosses I2 may beintegrally formed therewith, and in the case of the sheet metal type ofdevice, the bosses may be integrally formedor separately formed andwelded thereto, and/ or may be stamped or pressed out therefrom.

Each supporting structure includes a leg portion which may be designatedas a pipe or tubing l3, that is at one end adapted to turnably orpivotally fit over the boss l2, in order to position the tub. As seen,the boss I2 tapers or inclines inwardly towards its end and outwardlytowards its base, in order that the tubing I3 may be pivotally movedthereabout to accomplish a ready removal of the support structure. Atthe other end I l, the pipe I 3 is threaded to adjustably screw within afloor plate or flange IS. The flange may of course be secured in anysuitable manner to a mount or floor structure I? by means of screws,

bolts, or embedment in cement (not shown)..

When the support structure is used only temporarily, the floor plate orflange I6 can be slid along the floor space I'I, causing the tubing I3to pivot about the boss I2, and enabling a quick removal of the supportstructure. Of course, the tubing I3 may be screwed out of or into thebase plate It or the tub Iilmay be lifted a distance sufficient for theboss I2 to clear the tubing I3. However, when it is desired to removethe support tubing I3 after the tub has been cemented or locked intoposition, the advantages of the firstmentioned method of removal areclearly apparent.

Although the leg portion I3 may be turned by a wrench, with or without aflat, I have shown holes I5 drilled therethrough to receive a removablerod or pin.

It thus appears that one or more portions of a tub or bathing device maybe raised and/or lowered to provide the proper height for drainagepurposes, or to aid in mounting the drain and faucet pipes, and/or toaccommodate such tub to the individual tastes of a given household. Thisis accomplished by inserting a rod or pin through the holes I5 andturning the tubing I3 within the floor plate I6 and about the boss I2until the proper level has been attained. A very close adjustment ismade possible by the invention.

When, as frequently occurs, in residential work, a bathing device is tobe set into an enclosure or recess, it is often supported at the bottomor by placing its rim on 2 x 4is which are nailed to the studding. Thus,my invention may be effectively employed in such installations topermanently support a bathing device.

When baths are installed in hotels, large apartment buildings, etc., thetubs are often set before the enclosures are built. The walls of theenclosure are constructed of tile, gypsum block, etc., upon which thetile or finishing material is placed. Thus, there is no way ofsupporting the bathing devices, except by such temporary supports asblocks, bricks, etc., until concrete is slushed under the bottom.

By employing my invention, these bathing devices can be eitherpermanently supported, or

temporarily supported until such a time as contractors decide to slushconcrete under their bottoms. My invention is particularly valuable whenapplied to bathing devices which are considered to be difiicult totemporarily or permanently support.

While I have described my invention in View of a certain illustrativeembodiment, it will be apparent that many changes, substitutions,additions, omissions or combinations thereof may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and the scope thereof as indicated in theappended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In a bathing device having a suitable tub portion whose depthcorresponds somewhat to the desired height of the tub from a floor spaceupon 10 which it is to be mounted, a rim extending outwardly andsubstantially horizontally from and forming an edge for the tub, a bossrigidly secured to an underside of said rim and projecting downwardlytherefrom, a longitudinal leg portion,

and pivot means removably mounting said leg portion on said boss forsupporting the tub.

2. In a bathing device having a suitable tub portion and a rim portionextending outwardly therefrom, a boss depending downwardly from said rimportion, a longitudinal support member, a pivot means mounting one endof said support member upon said boss for supporting the tub, meanscooperating with the other end of said support member for mounting itupon a suitable floor space, and means for adjusting said supportmember, whereby the tub may be adjusted to a suitable height withrespect to the floor space.

3. In a bathing device having a suitable tub portion and arelatively-short rim portion extending outwardly adjacent the topthereof and constituting an edge therefor, a boss depending downwardlyfrom and rigidly secured to said rim portion, a longitudinal memberatone end pivotally mounted upon said boss, and a floor member slidablewith respect to a floor space upon which the tub is to be mounted, saidfloor member having a portion adjustably supporting the other end ofsaid longitudinal member.

4. In a bathing device having a suitable tub portion terminating in asubstantially horizontally-extending relatively-short rim portion, aboss projecting downwardly from the under-side of said rim, anadjustable tubing member, said tubing member having at least one openend for mounting upon said boss, said boss tapering inwardly towards theend thereof and outwardly towards the base thereof, so that said tubingmay pivot thereabout, and means adjustably mounting said tubing adjacentthe other end thereof upon of said leg members at one end being adaptedto be pivotally mounted on one of said bosses, and at the other endbeing adapted to be adjustably threaded on one of saidfloor plates, sothat said tub may be supported thereby.

WILLIAM o. THOMPSON.

